Myrtle Beach invites Canadians to experience '60 More Days of Summer'

The scenic locale of the Island Yacht Club provided the setting as Visit Myrtle Beach hosted a ‘Relax and Unwind’ event in Toronto last night. Guests were ferried out by water taxi to the venue, where massages, remedial hand creams and atmospheric blues music were the order of the day.

The evening aimed to showcase Myrtle Beach as an ideal location for Canadian travellers to relax throughout the year, with its ‘60 More Days of Summer’ angle highlighting the fall, in particular, as an opportune time to take advantage of the city’s idyllic beaches and warm weather.

The campaign, named for Myrtle Beach’s 60 miles of beaches as much as its 60 extra days of summer temperatures, first launched two years ago, also promoting the affordable accommodation on offer in September and October as an ideal reason to visit during shoulder season.

Kimberly Hartley, Canadian account manager and representative, Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, described South Carolina as a unique summer destination, as well as a hidden gem for the meeting market – backed up by Ursula Grant, convention sales manager, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, who told the assembled audience that Myrtle Beach’s charm and character made it an excellent location to arrange a meeting.

Scott Schult, executive vice-president of marketing, Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, said that Myrtle Beach also offered a welcome solution to any misgivings Canadian travellers may have about visiting the U.S. due to the weakness of Canadian currency against the U.S. dollar.

“Specifically, right now, we’re seeing some challenges with the exchange rate,” he told PAX. “The type of experiences… on the beautiful beach that we have, and all the other various attractions and activities that there are to do – it’s still one of the more affordable places that you could go. The value proposition, I think, is much stronger than some of the other destinations.”

The attention Myrtle Beach pays to the Canadian market is unsurprising, given the fact that Canada accounts for fully 83 per cent of its international business. “It is our number one international market,” Schult confirmed. “Canadian visitation is vital for us, and that’s why we continue to do these events each and every year.”

While Schult said that Myrtle Beach represented a suitable year-round destination, he emphasized that the '60 More Days of Summer' campaign allowed Canadian visitors to take advantage of the fact that high summertime accommodation rates make way for better value during the autumn.

“In September and October, the water is still amazingly warm; kids are back at school; there’s more elbow room on the beach,” he told PAX. “It’s a great time to come down, get some golf in, play on the beach, still enjoy the outdoorness and all the outdoor activities that there are – and it’s still summer-like conditions.”

The evening concluded with a serving of coastal Carolina cuisine cooked and prepared by chefs Jamie Saunders and Joseph Bonaparte, giving Canadians a taste of the authentic fare they could look forward to when visiting the city.

For more information, visit www.myrtlebeach.com.